The (neck) nerve of achalasia

[Kent in KC]

When I read Kevin's story, I was struck at the similarities to my own and it also concurs with two of my suspicions.

First, about me: I'm a guy, 56, had achalasia for over 30 years, probably a dozen baloon dilations (which worked for several years but were temporary), a fudoplication (sp?) which worked well for about 5 years, a fundoplication reversal (which did nothing) and currently dilations no longer help and my longtime doctor has thrown up his hands and advised me to see a surgeon about the gut ripper thing.

My problem began when I had a motorcycle wreck and damaged the area of my neck around the C3-C4 vertabraes. I later found out this is the area of the spine that controls the esophagus. I can't get any doctors interested in following up this line of investigation. Any of you other guys have neck injuries or pain?

About fifteen years ago, I got snookered into trying a new line of super vitamins called Body Wise. They're primary claim of benefit was better health and weight loss. Well, for me, it made a vast improvement in my achalasia. Again, I could not get my doctors excited about this idea.

I think Body Wide went out of business but it makes perfect sense to me that vitamins could hold a benefit for achalasia. I'll give the Vit B thing a try.

But, again, do any of you folks have neck or spine problems?

[cyehl]

Very interesting...I had a computer monitor fall off a shelf and land on my shoulder (crushed) from about 4 feet over my head. 7 months later I started having problems swallowing. Two years later, I was diagnosised with achalasia. I have asked every doctor if they thought that the injury caused my achalasia but no one will ever say if they believe me.

[paul_3eb]

as for my experience, i also suspect that there is a connection between achalasia and neck pain. i suffered a locking jaw as well as neck pain before i was diagnosed with achalasia. as of now, i still have my neck pain that connects to the jaw and my back.

i made a research on the web about the treatment of jaw, neck and back pain, and i found out from one of the website i visited that it originates on bite pressure which causes te jaw to move backward, therefore, damaging the jaw joint. for that reason i am planning to have my teeth align by neurodentist. i dont know if this will work but i am optomistic it will ease my neck and bak pain, and perhaps my achalasia too.

as of now, i am taking vit b and it seems their is an improvement. i also observe that if i skip taking vit b, i will suffer a heartburn.

[cyehl]

If there is anyone else that has experienced the coincidence between neck pain and achalasia, I would be interested in any responses! Thank you

[Tasha]

I am 53 and have had achalasia approximately ten years. I was in a car accident, late teens early twenties and got whip lash. In my 30's, I started having problems with my lower back (siaca, spelling). I do not know if either of these have anything to do with the achalasia. Hope this helps.

[missyh1105]

i have had several neck and back problems. i was diagnosed with achalasia today and i am alittle lost? any doctors or places to go?

[gbv]

This topic interests me because I too had a neck injury before my achalsia was diagnosed. I banged my head as I was entering a work van and at the ER was told I had crushed a nerve with two vertabrate. The swallowing problems were noticed about six months later. The other symptoms followed and got worst until I had to see a doctor because of the frequent vomiting. I lost 52 lbs in two months. My diabetes became a no meds plus and my blood pressure meds were no longer needed too.
I have tried accupuncture,chiropractic, b-vitamins, and massage. At this time the massage helps and the vitamins.
There are days when I could just have a surgery but I am not quite ready to go under the knife. Hopefully, I don't wait to long.
I am 51yrs old and grandmother of 2 beautiful girls and 2 boys. They help me to handle the stress.
gbv

[scotchie]

a bicycle wreck 15 years ago in which I herniated the disc in my lower neck, between my C6 and T1 vertebra.
The neurosurgeon said that he had never seen one that bad where the patient wasn't parylyzed.
Believe it or not, he did no surgery on me. I still have neck and shoulder pain, and overe the years I have been diagnosed with achlasia.
You may be onto something here.

[jimd]

I have osteoarthritis in C5-T1 area and the onset of the neck pain was almost simultaneous with the onset of my stomach problems, which began as GERD and are now diagnosed as full-blown achalasia. I'm set to go in for Botox next week, but my gastro and my GP both say they have heard nothing about a link between neck injury and achalasia. Seems there's at least anecdotal evidence on this list of a potential link.

Has anyone gotten a doctor to take this seriously? Is there any hope of treating the neurological cause of this?

[bush007]

My wife had a very nasty fall and as result has a c6 prolapsed cervical disc.
She developed Achalasia a few months later. She has lost over 3stones in weight and is now inline for surgery.
But no doctors seems to support our views.
Saying that the oesophegeal nerves are too far from the trauma site.

[jdlowery]

I developed a nervous tick with my neck and my swallowing problem simultaneously. Doctors don't seem to have an answer. I will try to the vitamins to see what happens.